Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

SueB
Posts: 304
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by SueB » 4 years ago

Lulu wrote:
4 years ago
Those tarnish free jewelry boxes might be putting off a chemical which could be absorbed by the opal. I don't keep mine in a tarnish free box and have had no problems.
For how long LuLu?? Took 2,3 yrs for mine to turn, I don’t do kitchen, yard, don’t smoke.... I take care of my jewelry so maybe it is the tarnish free boxes? But wouldn’t the tarnish paper do same? Also I read here somewhere Cheryl said they change over time?
0 x

TerryTalk
Posts: 111
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by TerryTalk » 4 years ago

Hi. I know I am just jumping in on this conversation, I am new to ShopLC, but not jewelry and not opals. I have a lot of opals, jewelry and gemstones in small and large sizes going back to purchases from 6—7 years ago. Most of mine are stored in my jewelry boxes (not anti-tarnish), some are in plastic gemstone cases, some in small jewelry boxes with anti-tarnish strips, and some in just small cardboard jewelry boxes with no anti-tarnish strips. I have gold and sterling silver pieces and as I stated just plain opal gemstones. These are all Ethiopian Opals and they have NOT changed color at all! I purchased mine from JTV, Evine (now Shop HQ), Macy’s, Etsy, etc... I mention this so you know I am not pushing one site/vendor over another. I do care for them like I do pearls—putting on last, etc... and I do take them off before hand washing and any “chores”. By the way, I love opals set in gold—10K, 14K, 18K— I have had NO problems at all! I hope this helps—if the opal(s) turns color I would either think the person wearing the item did something unfortunate or the opal was possibly not a mined opal and was man made. Just a thought. Thanks for listening! P.S. I hate to admit it, but I do smoke and still my opals have not changed in color 😊
3 x

User avatar
Gypsy
Posts: 4045
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by Gypsy » 4 years ago

I've only had one pair of.opal studs turn yellowish in color but it was my fault I forgot to take off before spending weekend on beach......that'll do it🤯
1 x

Spooky
Posts: 563
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by Spooky » 4 years ago

Thanks TerryTalk for sharing your experiences
w Welo opal! Now I Wonder if it’s the silver
affecting the opals
1 x

TerryTalk
Posts: 111
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by TerryTalk » 4 years ago

Well Spooky, I have quite a few opals in sterling silver stored in anti-tarnish containers and some without the anti-tarnish strips and there is no difference between the two with the opals. I really don’t think the metal color or purity is making the difference regarding the color change IMO.
1 x

User avatar
RS
Posts: 5464
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by RS » 4 years ago

Maybe though that’s why SLC said they are only going to be making opal jewelry in gold going forward?
1 x

Spooky
Posts: 563
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by Spooky » 4 years ago

What I was thinking was possibly the jewelers rouge
that is used to polish the silver. Since Welo’s
absorb so well it could be air pollution, sweat,
hand lotion, etc. Also, the SLC decision to
henceforth put the Welo’s in gold makes me
suspicious that there
is something going on behind the scenes. What
we’re being told and what is actually happening
to the opals makes no sense.
1 x

User avatar
Gypsy
Posts: 4045
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by Gypsy » 4 years ago

Although well opals have been on market since what, 2007 ??, I still hear them referred to as a new gemstone . So there is no extended history of this gem and maybe this is just the nature of some welo opal pieces. From what some are saying it isn't all of thier opal pieces.....just some and usually several years later. Just a thought

And maybe my wearing the opals to the beach really didn't make a difference ....that the earrings were going to turn regardless ( that was to make myself feel better about not taking them off !)
2 x

Spooky
Posts: 563
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by Spooky » 4 years ago

You may be right Gypsy. Might just
be the luck of the draw. When I was
researching the question of opals
changing color I saw a lot of pictures
of dealers at the various gem shows
and saw tables full of ugly yellow Welo’s.
I looked up whether there is a gas released
during the tarnishing process of silver.
Articles stated that the silver is reacting
to the sulfur in the air and this is why
tarnished silver has a rotten egg odor.
Most jewelers recommend keeping your
silver in airtight container. If I stumble
upon any other ideas I’ll post these.
1 x

User avatar
Gypsy
Posts: 4045
Joined: 4 years ago

Re: Impregnated Welo opals? Mod PLEASE ANSWER

Post by Gypsy » 4 years ago

Spooky wrote:
4 years ago
You may be right Gypsy. Might just
be the luck of the draw. When I was
researching the question of opals
changing color I saw a lot of pictures
of dealers at the various gem shows
and saw tables full of ugly yellow Welo’s.
I looked up whether there is a gas released
during the tarnishing process of silver.
Articles stated that the silver is reacting
to the sulfur in the air and this is why
tarnished silver has a rotten egg odor.
Most jewelers recommend keeping your
silver in airtight container. If I stumble
upon any other ideas I’ll post these.
Makes me wonder if we all haven't been overthinking natural occurence that just may or may not happen
1 x